9 Challenges Only Veterans Can Relate To

Veterans
face new challenges and struggles as they return home to adjust to civilian
life. These challenges fall under finance, employment, health, education,
career, shelter, and even relationships. Although veterans
have unique skills learned during their service, using them in the civilian
community might not be easy as they think. By the time they leave the military,
they seem to be speaking a different language. Some of the challenges veterans
can relate to are:

Mental
Health Challenges

Veterans
lived through extreme conditions that were far from ordinary and may have
experienced trauma from their time in combat. When they leave active service,
they may start experiencing flashbacks or involuntary memories. The resulting
consequence is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression,
substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Several veterans are suffering from mental health challenges. Dealing with these
situations can be difficult.

Hypersensitivity

Soldiers
develop safety skills as part of their military training. This skill makes them
sensitive to sound and suspicious activities and helps them detect signs of
danger. Readjusting this skill to fit into civilian life can be challenging for
veterans. They may develop high sensitivity to large crowds, loud noises, and
even bright lights. They can also become anxious, regularly changing television
channels that air war-related or disturbing news. This attitude can also be
irritable to their families.

Homelessness

The
US Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 11% of the adult homeless
population are veterans. After leaving active service, some veterans are unable
to make enough funds to pay for a home. Others suffering from addiction or
mental issues may lose their home. Another cause of veteran homelessness is the
lack of a support network from friends and family.

Entering
The Workforce

Many
veterans find it challenging to translate into the civilian workforce with
their military skills. Some have never applied for a civilian job before, and
they will need to learn how to create a resume to begin. They also may not know
what to expect during job interviews. If they eventually get a job, they may
find it difficult to be on a desk after several years in a war zone. Another
challenge is understanding the competition in the civilian workplace environment
as opposed to the military’s collaborative work style. Many of these
work-related challenges have led to a high unemployment rate among veterans.

Providing
Necessities and Creating Structure

Necessities
like food and shelter are provided to soldiers by the military. Veterans didn’t
need to bother with them while in active service. They also didn’t have
different choices, as they may have had to eat at certain times and dress in
military outfit often. Getting these necessities themselves and adjusting to a
civilian way of life may be challenging. They will need to learn how to create
a structure for themselves, learn how to get to a doctor, and access other
services previously given by the military.

Feelings
of Being Unsafe

As
a result of safety training also, some veterans may develop paranoia and become
suspicious. It may be hard for them to decide “who the enemy is,”
leading to confrontations even between their friends. A veteran may start
avoiding people and social gatherings. He may be unable to let his guard down
and become distrustful, resenting, hostile, and opposing. He’ll need to learn
how to trust people and stop being suspicious.

Some
veterans facing this challenge become secretive and isolate themselves from
online associations out of fear. However, a good investment in online identity
protection services might be what he needs.

Challenges
with Decision-making

Soldiers
are used to taking orders from superiors. Depending on the soldier’s position
in the military, he may be unable to make decisions by himself when he leaves.
Making simple decisions with his family or deciding between getting a job or
going to college can be daunting. He may end up avoiding situations where he’s
required to provide solutions. He will need to learn how to take initiatives,
be responsible, find solutions to simple problems, and be decisive.

Dealing
with Authority

On
the other extreme of being unable to make decisions, is an inability to deal
with authority figures. Many senior commanding officers who leave the military
tend towards ordering people around. They might develop a temper when people
don’t respond the way they want. They become unable to deal with authority figures
like their boss at their new jobs or even the police. They’ll need to learn
that civilian relationships are mutual, and they can’t order people around.

Handicaps
and Disability

Some
veterans return home with physical handicap situations like amputation, disfigurement,
or scarification. Others may be disabled and unable to walk. Depending on the
nature of the disability, some may require permanent home care. Challenges with
handicap and disability situations can lead to an inability to get a job or
even cause self-esteem issues.

Conclusion

Life after military service can be daunting. The
transition process into civilian life may be difficult for Veterans. Having a
good support network of family and friends, coupled with proper health care,
can help ease the transition process.